Saturday, February 5, 2011

Unlimited Internet packages soon suspended in Canada?

In Canada, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) wants to charge Internet users consume much more bandwidth. However, the draft of the CRTC was very coldly received. Many online Canadians oppose, like small telecommunications operators. Unlimited Internet packages will they soon be ancient history in Canada? On 25 January, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has granted to major telecommunications operators such as Bell Canada and Telus, the right to charge a subscription to Internet use, to the detriment of the principle of unlimited. The idea of the CRTC, blown by the major operators in the country, was simple. Instead of offering unlimited subscriptions, and Internet access providers would bill the subscriber based on its uses. Each user would have a transmission threshold to meet each month. In case of overflow, the ISP could charge off the excess as a package. The end of unlimited plans quickly led to an outcry in Canada. A petition against the measure has emerged, bringing together now more than 416,000 signatories. "Major telecommunications companies seeking to defraud consumers certainly, control the market on the net and ensure that consumers continue to subscribe to their audiovisual services" protested the petition. Small Internet service providers have also criticized the project conducted by the CRTC. These are indeed very dependent on networks of major telecommunications operators. The entry into force of an Internet subscription to use could force them to end their own unlimited plans, affecting their competitiveness. Outcry, the CRTC chose to temporize. "Our decisions were to come into force on 1 March 2011. We have since received an application by Bell Canada to extend 60 days from the date of implementation. Similarly, Vaxin Computers, which was one of the parties in our last resort, has submitted an application for postponement. " In addition to the postponement of two months, the Council will "of its own motion, reconsider its decision to confirm it protects the consumer as the biggest Internet users pay for their excessive use; that smaller ISPs can retain as much flexibility as possible and continue to be a source of innovation within the sector. " It is about a 15% tariff to use the bandwidth of the main operators. The project is far from being abandoned. "The vast majority of Internet users should not have to subsidize heavy users. We see this as an issue of fundamental fairness. I repeat: ordinary users should not be forced to subsidize heavy users "said Konrad von Finckenstein, Chairman of the CRTC.